Jan. 30, 1998
The municipalities of Babak, Samal and Kaputian were merged to become the Island Garden City of Samal by virtue of Republic Act No. 8471 signed by then President Fidel V. Ramos.
Located in Davao del Norte province, the city is composed of a main island and seven islets.
About 90 percent of the city’s 30,130 hectares of land is allotted for the production of coconut, corn, rice and other crops.
The city is also known for its production of mango, its “One Town, One Product.” Its population in 2015 was 104,123.
Feb. 1, 2012
The provincial government of Ifugao mounted a series of tourism projects aimed at drawing tourists who may want to volunteer work or resources in helping repair the world-famous rice terraces, which were damaged by typhoons.
The P36.25-million restoration plan includes rehabilitating damaged and abandoned rice terraces, building protection walls, constructing cobblestone solar dryers, installing hydraulic ram pump and establishing community seed banks.
The rice terraces, declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in 1995, were damaged during the onslaught of Typhoons “Pedring” (international name: Nesat) and “Quiel” (international name: Nalgae) in 2011.
Compiled by Kathleen de Villa, Inquirer Research